Abstract: A planar interdigitated dielectric sensor useful for measuring the surface properties of a material is disclosed. The sensor is formed on an insulating substrate. Attached to the surface of the substrate is an excitation electrode and a response electrode disposed in an interdigitated pectinate configuration and a resistance temperature device a (metallic strip). Filling the space between the electrodes and the metallic strip is an insulating material of known dielectric properties. The upper surface of the electrodes and the metallic strip are generally coplanar with respect to the insulating material between the electrodes thus forming a flat upper surface on the sensor. This flat upper surface serves to eliminate air gaps between the sensor surface and sample when analyzing relatively viscous materials.

Abstract: It is sometimes required to track randomly moving objects with precision and high speed. This inventioin pertains to a mirro rotation assembly that provides precise, high-speed pitch and yaw tracking by rotating a low-moment-of-inertia mirror rather than rotating a heavier double gimballed mirror assembly or the camera-lens assembly itself. By pivoting the mirror on a single bearing point and controlling the mirror surface pitch and yaw by driving two mirror tie points along circumferential paths around the bearing point, a low moment of inertia is obtained. The low moment of inertia together with mirror velocity rather than position control permits higher speed tracking while maintaining the required precision. The velocity control strategy minimizes image blur resulting from unpredicted object motions.

Abstract: There is provided a sharps container comprising a receptacle and a lid engaging the receptacle, the lid including a rotatable tray and a baffle flap for sealing the receptacle when the tray is in an open position. The tray is biassed toward the open position by the force of gravity, and one or more detents may be provided to hold the tray selectively in a closed or partially closed position.

Abstract: A parallel plate or single surface dielectric analyzer is disclosed including: a distance sensor for accurately measuring the varying distance between the electrodes, such as a linear voltage differential transformer (LVDT), and apparatus responsive to the distance sensor for positioning the electrodes; a force transducer for measuring the applied force on the sample and apparatus responsive to the force transducer to give a desired force by varying the electrode spacing; disposable electrodes made using thick film technology composed of a ceramic substrate with a conductor adhered to its surface; and a temperature sensor built into one of the electrodes such as a platinum ring adhered to the surface of one of the electrodes and apparatus to measure the resistance across the platinum ring.

Abstract: The invention is a hexagonal garment box including a novel hanger apparatus formed by flaps of two opposing walls of said box. The hanger apparatus includes a hanger bar formed from a foldable flap, supported by a slot in an opposing wall of said box and another flap from the opposing wall which extends over the hanger bar to secure and hold any hangers placed between the two flaps in position within the garment box.

Abstract: There is provided a conveyor wheel comprising a male hub, a female hub mateably engaging the male hub, an outer wheel hub having an outer circumference for supporting an object, and a plurality of ball bearings supporting the outer wheel hub with respect to the mateably engaged male and female hubs. The outer wheel hub includes at least one rib of substantially triangular cross-section in the outer circumference. A wheel or roller conveyor including a plurality of the conveyor wheels is also disclosed.

Abstract: A planar interdigitated dielectric sensor useful for measuring the surface properties of a material is disclosed. The sensor is formed on an insulating substrate. Attached to the surface of the substrate is an excitation and response electrode disposed in an interdigitated pectinate configuration. Filling the space between the electrodes is an insulating material of known dielectric properties. The upper surface of the electrodes are generally coplanar with respect to the insulating material between the electrodes thus forming a flat upper surface on the sensor. This flat upper surface serves to eliminate air gaps between the sensor surface and sample when analyzing relatively viscous materials.

Abstract: There is provided a nondestructive inspection method and apparatus for determining fiber characteristics such as elasticity, diameter, and chemical composition, and the thickness and quality of fiber coatings via laser-generated ultrasound for velocity and attenuation measurements.

Abstract: A radial bleed total thrust control system for a rocket propelled missile. In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus employs at least two pairs of straight radial nozzles which are disposed within and penetrate the skin of the missile and at least two pairs of tangentially canted radial nozzles which are also disposed within and penetrate the skin of the missile to provide control moments necessary to control the pitch, yaw, roll and/or the axial thrust of the missile. In one embodiment the radial and tangential nozzles are supplied by the same source of propelling gas as the main thrust nozzle, and in a second embodiment the straight radial and tangentially canted radial nozzles have a separate gas supply source.

Abstract: Anti-calculus oral compositions include an aluminum salt and an aliphatic carboxylic acid or water-soluble salt thereof capable of complexing with the aluminum, together with a carrier suitable for use in the oral cavity. Such compositions exhibit marked effectiveness in inhibiting the formation and growth of calculus on the dental enamel.

Abstract: An isotope-ratio-monitoring gas chromatography-mass spectrometry apparatus and method are disclosed which provide for on-line analysis of isotope compositions with high precision. With the apparatus and method, samples are introduced in a hydrogen carrier gas into a gas chromatograph and resolved into discrete compounds. The discrete compounds are thereafter introduced to a selectively permeable membrane separator, empolying palladium, palladium alloy or other suitable material, to separate out the hydrogen carrier. A replacement carrier gas is simultaneously introduced to carry the chromatographic sample to a combustion reactor, water separator and isotope-ratio-monitoring mass spectrometer. The replacement carrier gas is introduced at a lower flowrate than the hydrogen carrier gas, thus permitting lower flowrates to be introduced to the mass spectrometer to improve its precision. Flowrates to the mass spectrometer are thus reduced without any loss or fractionation of the sample.

Abstract: A system and method for parsing natural language is provided. The system comprises a plurality of computer program code modules which address a plurality of predetermined lookup tables. Strings of characters, such as words, assigned one or more syntactical tags identifying the grammatical roles the strings can play are stored in a dictionary and retrieved as a system user inputs text to be processed. The tags are manipulated by a phrase parsing program module and translated into phrases according to grammatical rules stored in a lookup table. Sequences of the phrases corresponding to input sentences are maniplated by a sentence checking program module which consults another suitable rule table. The system and method optionally provide help in identifying grammatically incorrect passages in the input text.

Abstract: A system and method for determining from continuous speech, the instantaneous values of a set of articulatory parameters. The continuous speech data is a sequence of spectral profiles obtained by spectrally sampling continuous speech. The spectral samples are presented in sequence to a plurality of class transforms, each establishing a respective speech phoneme class which includes plurality of speech phoneme having similar spectral and articulatory characteristics. Each class transform converts a speech segment included in its class and contained in a spectral sample into a predetermined set of articulatory parameter values. A class-discriminating transform operates in parallel with the class transforms to produce a set of probability values, each indicating the probability that the spectral sample being transformed represents a phoneme in a respective speech phoneme class.

Abstract: Water soluble liquid quaternary ammonium polyhalides and quatenrary ammonium polyhalides in water soluble admixture with surfactants, and their use in the control of biofouling in aqueous systems.

Abstract: Water soluble liquid quaternary ammonium polyhalides and quaternary ammonium polyhalides in water soluble admixture with surfactants, and their use in the control of biofouling in aqueous systems.

Abstract: A system for focussing a lens on a point light source is provided that includes an opaque member disposed near the lens. The member cast a shadow having a distinguishable orientation in the image of the light source. An image processing device determines the focus condition and range to the point light source from the orientation and size of the shadow.

Abstract: A method of controlling biofouling in a aqueous systems comprising introducing into the system a biocidally effective amount of a water soluble perhalide of the formula: ##STR1## where R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are hydrogen, hydroxyethyl, alkyl, cyclic alkyl, (alpha, omega)-alkyl, alkyl ether, polyether, heterocyclic ring-substituted alkyl, and halogenated alkyl; n is 2 to 6: X is chlorine, bromine or iodine; and only one of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 may be hydrogen.

Abstract: 2-(2-bromo-2-nitroethenyl)-furan can be used as an antimicrobial in broad spectrum of uses. A novel process for preparing 2-(2-bromo-2-nitroethenyl)-furan has been found in which furfural is reacted with bromonitromethane using a primary amine or primary amine salt as a catalytic agent to produce an intermediate product which is dehydrated in the presence of acid to the desired product. An antimicrobial composition comprising 2-(2-bromo-2-nitroethenyl)-furan and a carrier is also disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided a variable motor support for a pump comprising a pump foot member and a foot member insert, the pump foot member being suitably attached to, for example, the pump's volute housing and the foot member insert being cooperatively disposed with respect to the pump foot member, thereby accommodating differences in the physical dimensions of pump motors.

Abstract: A combined pump and oil reservoir and oil delivery apparatus directs oil to the internal chambers of a portable sewing machine where oil is distributed by pump pressure, gravity flow, capillary action, wicking, misting and movement of machine components. Oil is pumped into a manifold leading to upper and lower main drive shaft bearings and to the needle driving assembly for subsequent dispersion during rotation and reciprocation of machine parts to fling such oil outwardly within the internal chambers to oil machinery both directly and by misting.